Railway-switch operating and controlling apparatus.



W. W. SALMON. RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING AND CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION I'ILED JULY 15.1901. RENEWED MAY 17,1906.

PATENTED OCT. 2,1906.

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PATBNTED OUT. 2, 1906.

, W. SALMON.

w RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING AND GONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. 190 1. RENEWED MAY 17,

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Wren/0r Wihesses PATBNTBD OCT. 2, 1906. A W. w. SALMON. RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING AND CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. 1901. RENEWED MAY 17,1906.

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PATENTED OCT. 2, 1906.

W. W. SALMON. RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING AND CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. 1901. RENEWED MAY 17, 1906.

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WiLMER W; SALMON, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK, AssIeNoR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO GENERAL, RAILWAY sieNAL COMPANY, or BUF- FALO, NEW roan, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RAiLWAY-SWITCH OPERATING AND cou'rnoaamenseearus;

Patented Bet. a, lace.

Application fil d July 15, 1901'- Renewed May17, 1906- Serial No. 817,348-

To atl whom it may concern 7 city of Bufialo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway- Switch Operating and Controlling Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and ex act description.

My invention relates to railway-switch operating and controlling apparatus, and more particularly the employment of electric energy and electromagnetic influence to produce such operation and control.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the movement of the switchrail may be reversed at any point of movement and restored to its initial position, and also toprovide means whereby the actuating-current is automatically cut off fromthe motor when a complete movement of the switch has been made in either direction,- and to provide means whereby the residual energy of the motor, due to momentunumay be utilized to produce an indication-current which will give ,the necessary back indication and operate throu h magnetic influence to release the controlling-levers of other func. tions which remain locked until the movement of the articular switch. inquestionis complete an the switch locked; i

To end my invention consists in the employment of a series Wound motor havingtwo independe'ntfield-windin s, mechanism connecting the-motor with t e rail-switch, lockin -bars actuated-by said mechanism which lock the-rail-switch, an electric switch actuated by said locking-mechanism to cut "off the actuating-current from said' notor and to-close the circuit for the indication circuit, interlocking mechanism, controlling mechanism, polarized electromagnetic mech-' anism governing the direction of current in the motor-armature, and the several circuits.

hereinafter fully described essential to cheaperation of said several mechanisms.

Referrin to the drawin herewith, consistin of our sheets, in w 'ch like charac-' ters 0 reference indicate like parts, Figure 1 is a plan view ofa rail-switch, switch-operate 'ing motor, .and'mechanism. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the switch and mechanism,

third of the movement of the dis engages the outer end of the slot, swings. the

for drivin the switc bars and olts. Fi 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, s owing the controlling mechanism placed in the tower. Fig. 4 is a diagram of circuits.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is a series wound motor, having two inde endent fieldwindings. 2 is a worm on t e armature shaft.

eted to the bar 8 are bolts 11 and 12, here-.

inafter more fully described. The switchrail 13 ismoved, by means of a disk 14 and in 15 in rotation with the shaft 4, in the folowing Way: Pivoted to the bar 6 is a cam 16, which has a lever-arm 17, which is pivoted at its outer end to an adjustable rod 18, connected to the switch-rail 13. The cam 16 has a slot en aging the pin 15 ofsuch shape thatduring the initial movement of the disksay one-third of the entire movementin either direction from its starting point the pin 15 travels in an arc portion of the slot concentric with the shaft 4, so that it does not move the switch rail. DuringKthe middle cam inits pivot, and the arm 1 7 moves the rod 18 in one direction or the other, according to the direction of'movement of the motor 1, opening or closing the .switch' 131 During -the final third of the movement of the. disk 14 the pin 15 travels free in thepipposite path concentricwith said shaft 4 'an 1m arts no further movementto the cam. A ock-rod 19 is rigidly connected to the switch-rail =13 and reciprocates in a locking-frame 20,which is mounted upon the bars. '5 and 6. The'locking-frame 20 has holes which-permit of. the

freflpassage of the bolts 11 and 12, and the holes which'they enter in the locking-frame,

20, are so positioned as to-be respectively-in which the overlying mechanism and motor are removed to clearly show the mchanism.

rail and. the locking Y, 3 is a worm-gear onthe vertical I shaft 4. The shaft 4 is journaled to bar 5 and is rotated in either direction by the mo 14 the pin influence of the magnets, about to be described, when energized by the back indica tion-current. It will 'be noted that the shoulders 75 and 76 of the lug 74 are so lo-l cated that when the lug 71 has reached the position for a magnetic release of the latch 72 the lug 71 is out from under the lug 74. and 78 are magnets supported by the bracket 7 73 in such position that when the magnet 77 throng is energized it will lift the end of the latch 72 engaging with the shoulder 69, and when the magnet 78 is energized it will lift the end of the latch 72, engaging with the shoulder 70.

Having thus described the several mechane ical parts of my invention, I will now refer es-' pecially to the diagram of Fig. 4 and indicate the several circuits and method of operation.

Suppose the bar 53 to have been moved from its extreme right-hand position into the position shown in Fig. 3, where it is stopped by the latch 7 2, engaging the shou-lder70. This movement has put the electric switch-arm 60 into connection with the contacts 61 and 62 and the switch-arm 66 into connection with the contact 63. battery 79, sothat the current flows through wire 80, contact-63,'switcharm 66, wires 81 and 82, polarized relay 83, wires 84 85 86 87,

I switch-arm 60, contact 61, wires 88 and 89, so

back to battery 79. This energizes the polarized relay in such direction as to throw its lever 90 against the stop 91, thereby closinganother circuit of the battery 79, so that the current flows from the battery through wires 80, contact 63, switch-arm- 66, wires 81 92, lever 90, stop 91, wire 93, magnet 23, wires 54 86 87, switch-arm 69, contact 61, wires 88 and 89, back to battery 7 9. This energizes the magnet 23, causing it to withdraw the bolt carried by its armature from the rack 9 on the locking-bar 8 and to put the electric switch-arm v28. into electrical connection with the sto 32, thereby closing another circuit of the attery 79, so that the current flows through wire 80, contact 63, switch arm 66, wires 81' 94 95, stop 32, switch-arm 28,

wire 96, contact 35, switch-arm 33, contact 36, wire 97, field-coil 98, wire 99, armature 1, wires 100 and 87, switch-arm 60, contact 61,

wires 88 and 89,'back to the battery 7 9. This energizes the motor 1, causing it through the intermediate gearing to move the locking-- bar 8 and the'switch-rail, The first small part of the movement of the bar 8 withdraws the switch-arm 34 from the contacts 38 and 39 and puts it into connection with the contacts 40 and 41. When the movement of the lock-bar 8 is nearly complete, the rack 9 passes the bolt carried by the armature of This closes a circuit of-the and puts it into connection with the contacts 38 and 37. This breaks the circuit for the driving-current between the contacts 35 and 36 and establishes a circuit including the motor 1 and the magnet 78, so that the current generated by the continued rotation of the armature 1, due to momentum, generates a current which flows from the armature 1 through wires 99, field-coils 102, wire-103, contact 41, switch-arm 34, contact 40, wire 104, switch-arm 27, stop'30, Wire 105, contact 37, switch-arm 33, contact 38, wire 106, magnet 78, wire 107, contact 62, switch-arm 60, wires 87 and 100, back to the armature 1. This current stops the rotation of the armature 1 and energizes the magnet 78,- causing it to lift the latch 72 out of engagement'with the shoulder 70, thus permitting the bar 53 to be pushed back into its final position, thereby releasing certain looking on the tappet-bar 59 and carrying the switch-arms 6O and 66 away from the contacts 61, 62, and 63, respectively. To again to its original position, the bar 53 is pulled to 'the right until stopped by the latch 72, engaging with the shoulder 69. This movement puts the switch-arm 60 into conput the track-switch back nection with contacts 63 and 64, and the switch-arm 66 into contact with 68. In moving intothis position the switch-arm 60 passes over the contacts 61 and 62, and the switch-arm 66' passes over the contact 63; but as these connections; established a circuit of the battery to effect the previous .move- ,ment, which circuit is broken between the contacts 35 and 36, nothing is done by it. The switch-arrns in the new position mentioned. above close a circuit of the battery 7 9 so that the current flows through the wire 80,contact 63, switch-arrn 60, wires 87 86 84, polarized relay 83, wires 82 81, switch-arms 66, contact 68, wires 108 and 89, back to the battery 79. This magnetizes the polarized relay in such direction as to throw the lever against the stop 109. battery '79-, so that the current flows through wire 80, contact 63, switch-arm 60, wires 87 86 85 '110, magnet 22, wire 111, stop 109, lever 90, wires 92 81, switcharm 66, contact 68, wires 108'and 89, back to the battery 79. Thisenergizes the magnet 22, causing it to Withdraw the bolt from the rack 9 and to place the electric switch arm'27 in connection with the stop 29, thereby closing another circuit of the battery 79, so that the current This closes another circuit of the.

flows through wire 80, contact 63, sWitejharm 60, wires 87 100,'armature1, wire 99, field-coils 102, wire 103, contact 41 switcharm 34, contact 40, Wire'104, switch-arm 27, stop 29, wires 112 94 81, switch-arm 66, contact 68, wires 108 and 89', back to the battery 79. This current causes the armature to rotate in a direction opposite to that it had in the movement previousl described and the.

track-switch 13 and locking-bar 8 to move in the opposite direction. At the beginning of TL. in

bolt is of such length that when it is resting egainst the back he rash 9 the switch-arm 28 is held in a position between the stops 31 3 so it does not make contact With either. The sameconstruotion is applied to t) switch-arm 2?, and it is shown in this neutrei position in the drawings. Near the end oi? the movement now being described the inch passes the bolt on the armature of mag net 23 and under the influence of its spring the is forced aivayfrom the magnet,

' which in movementis not energized, and

the switch-arm 28 is put into connection with the stop 31 ct spproximstely the some time the svritch orm 341 is Withdrawn from the con- 420 and ti and put into connection with contacts 33 and 39;. This breaks the driving-current through-the motor between the contacts so and 41 and establishes o circuit including the motor and the magnet 77, so that the current generated by the rotation of the armature flows from the armature through the ires 100 87, switch-arm so, contact 54:, wire 114, magnet 77, Wire 1063; contact 38, switcherm 34, contact 39, Wire 115, stop 31, switch-arm 28, Wire 96, contact 35, switch-arm 33, contact 36, Wire 97, field-coils 98, Wire 99, back to armature 1. This current energizes the magnet 77, causing it to lift the latch 72 out of the path of the shoulder 69. The switch-arms 38 and 34 ere reversed long enough before the end of the movement of the locking-bar 8 to give time for the development of the indication-current and for this current to stop the rotation. of the armature Without shock.

From the preceding description it will be seen that the switch-arms 33 and 34: make connection With the contacts 35 36 and 40 ll, respectively, throughout nearly the Whole of the movement of the looking-bar 8, and the crrangement and propol tion of parts are such that they do remain in these positions throughout the entire time, and, more, that the lockbolts 11 and 12 are being Withdrawn irom the lock-rod 19, so that during this time they are symmetrically situated with respect to forming circuits through the field-coils 98 and 102. It will also be seen that the direction of currents through the polarized relay and the motor-armature depends on the position of the controlling-switch 66 in the tower, that the circuits through magnets 22 and '23 depend on the position of the relay-lever 90, and the magnet 22 controls the circuit through the field-coil 102 and the magnet 23 that so that opposite currents sent through the armature by the change in position of the controllingewitch produce opposite rotations of the armature.

After starting a switch movement and before the complete movement has been efiected it is sometimes desirable to throw the track-switch back into its original position again. Especially is this desirable if there IS an obstruction between the rail which prevents a complete movement. To describe how this is eiiected, suppose the contrcllingovritch 60 66 to he put into the position shown in Fig. t to orient the first mov ment described above. This throws the polarised relay-lever against the contest 91, as above described, energi-nes the magnet 23, and causes current to fiOW through the fifildcoils 98 and through the armature 1 from left to right on the diagram. The iuitisl movement of the loch bsr 8 puts the switcharm 34: into connection with the contacts so and 41. If now the controlling-switch be put into the position to effect the second movement previously described, the current is sent through the polarized relay in the oriposits direction, the lever is thrown against the stop 109, the magnet 22 is energized instead of 23, and current flows through the field-coil 102 and the armature 1 from right to left. This causes the armature to rotate in the opposite direction, and the trackswitch and lockingbolts are put bacl; into their original position, the operations being the same as those described for the second movements mentioned above.

I do not limit myself to this particulnr construction illustrated. For instance, ll may use a train of spur-gearing instesd oi the Worm-gearing shown, or I may use a screw on the armature-shaft running in a nut on the locking-bar it by means of the mechanism employed on the Well known mechanical switch-and-lock movement. I may also dispense with the polarized relay 83 by equipping the magnets 22 and 23 with polarised armatures and placing these two magnets in series in the circuit in which the polarized relay 83 is shown. I Would arrange the polarication of the armatures so that a. current in one direction would cause only one of the magnetssay 22to sttrsct its armature and a current in the oppositedirection would cause the magnet 23 to attract its armature.

Having thus described my invention and its method of operation, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following combinations, substantially as and for the purposes set forth:

1. The combination With a switch mechanism of a motor having two independent field-windings, a polarized relay, and locks,

controlled by said polarized relay, for locking said switch mechanism.

2. The combination with a switch mechanism of a motor having two independent nets which are controlled by said polarized relay for governing the current through the field-windings of said motor.

3. In combination with a rail-switch and a source of electric energy, a series-wound motor having two' independent field-windings, mechanism connecting said motor and said switch, controllin mechanism, an electric I5 switch, a polarize magnet overned by said switch for mediately estab ishing a circuit including one or the other of the fields of said motor and said source of energy, electromagnetic means governed by said polarized magnet and governing the circuits of said fields for immediately closing one or the otherof the fields of said motor with the source of ener y, electromagnetic means for governing sai controller, a circuit, and an electric switch in said circuit for closing said motor in circuit with said electromagnetic mechanism governin said controller, whereby the action of saif motor, due to momentum, energizes said electromagnetic mechan ism governing said controller, substantiall as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In combination with a railway-switch and a source of electric energy, a series-wound motor having two independent field-windings, mechanism connecting said motor with said switch, a controller, an electric switch, a po-' larized magnet governed by said switch for mediately estab ishing a circuit including one or the other 0 the fields of said motor with said source of energy, electromagnetic means governed by said' polarized magnet and governing the circuits of said fields for immediately closing one or the other of the fields of said motor with said source of energy, a circuit, an electric switch in said circuit, 'and electromagnetic means for governing said controller comprising indication-circuits and indication-magnets included in each of said indication-circuits, said magnets capable of being closed respectively w1th the windings of said motor, whereby said motor, acting as a generator, may energize one or the other of said magnets, accordin to the direction of itsorotation, substantially as and for the pur- 5 5 .poses set forth.

5. 'The combination with a rail-switch, a motor, a source of electric energy, and mechanism connecting said motor with said switch, of a locking mechanism consisting of a locking-bar mechanically actuated by the mechamsm driven by said motor, and locking-bolts for locking said bar, a polarized magnet and magnets governed by said polarized magnet for unlocking said bolts, and a controller and 65 circuits including said polarized magnets .set forth. field-windings; a polarized relay, and mag-.

with the source of energy and circuits including said ma nets for unlocking said bolts lockingsaid locking-bar with said-source of energy, substantially as and for the purposes 79 6. The combinationof a rail-switch, a series-wound motor having two inde endent field-windin s, operatin -circuits, in 'catingcircuits, an a source 0 electric energy, of a controller, a pole-changing mechanism for mediatel closing one of said motor-fields with sai source of energ magnets govern ing said controller, mec anical means for moving and lockingsaid rail-switch throu h" the action of said motor, and means for Ice 8e ing and releasing the mechanism locking said switch, consisting of magnets governed by said pole-changing mechanism and arma tures carrying bolts to lock said rail-switchlocking mechanism, mechanical means-for driving said bolts to lock, and electric switches actuated by the movement of said armatures which immediately close one or the other of the fields of said motor and said source of en ergy when said bolts are entirely withdrawn o from lock, and a snap-switch which breaks one or the other of said operating-circuits and closes said motor through oneof said in- .dication-circuits in. circuit with one of said magnets governing said controller when said 9 5 bolts are driven into lockmechanically, substantially as and for the urposes set f rth.

7. In combination with a 'rail-switc a motor having two independent field-windings, and a source of energy, of mechanical means for moving said switch and locking the same on completion of the movement of the railswitch, a controller, an electric switch, a potoc .larized magnet governed by said switch for mediately establishing a circuit including one or the other of said fields with said source of energy, electromagnets governing said controller, mechanism for locking said locking mechanism and for closing said motor in circuit with said source of :energy when said last-mentioned mechanism is withdrawn.

from lock and for closing said motor in circuit with said magnets governing said controller when said locking mechanism is in lock, comprising said polarized magnet, mag- 1 5 nets and armatures carryin bolts for locking said track-switch lock,mec anical means for moving said bolts and said armatures to lock and away from said magnets, and a circuit including one or the other of said magnets to withdraw one of said bolts from lock, and electric switches actuated by the movement of said armatures which put one or the other of said motor-fields in circuit'with said source of energy when its respective bolt is out of lock, and which puts said motor in circuit with one of said magnets governing said con-- troller when said bolt is in lock, substantiallyv as and for the purposes set forth.

8. The combination with a railway-switch,

e motes two inrlepentlent held-Wind ings, e source oi electric of e contrclli g mechanism enci an electric switch ectneteii. therehy for rnerlietely closing the field-windings respectively in circuit with e source oi? energy, en electiic switch actuated loy e polarized magnet goveining seicl circuit, on electric snap-switch, e track-switch, mech anism tor delving said SWltOh encl inechanism for locking" the same, on electric switch ectuetezi therehy for closing said sen-wind ings iii circuit with said source of eneryy, niechenicel means for holding said control er I egeinst fine-l movement until the railwayswitch is locked and electromagnetic means for netniitting such final movement, means for locking seicl switch-locking mechanism end reieesing the same sit the pro er intervels consisting of holtsmechanical driven into loch, electromegnets 'cverne in the onier of their action by suit polarized msgnet for n'ithclmwing the same, and electric switchesmoveci by said bolts to close the sir cui't including the motor and the source of energy Wh en e colt has "seen withcliewn teem lock and to close seicl motoiin circuit with the magnets governing seicl conti'ollei: when switch-mil movement is compilete and locked, suhstcntielly cs encl for the purposes set forth.

9. in co nhinetion with e series-Wound. motoi having two independent iielri-wimh ings, s track-switch, a; controller, a source of energy and controlling and operating and in- (iicetion circuits, an electric switch, a polesizecl magnet, e circuit capable of heing closed through scicl controller, and an electric switch to estehlish 2; second circuit including said switch, the tongue of said. polarized msgnet endl one of two other magnets, eccozcciingto the position of the tongue of said polarized megnet,e lock for locking seicl trecln through sani controller, en& an electric switch to estehlish e secono circuit including said switch, the tongue of said polarizecl megnet and one of two other magnets, eccorcling to the position of the tongue of said polen lzed magnet, e lock for locking seicl trachswitch, magnets lest mentioned to unlock the lock of said track-switch comprising two coils, two ermetures and two bolts, and two electric switches actuated by said errnetures for said unlocking anti for establishing the switch-operating circuit through one or the other of the windings on said motor to moveseicl rail-switch, and indication-circuits and. niegnets included in said circuits, and e snapswitch included in said operating-circuit to break the same et the end of the switch move ment and closing the indication-circuit, suhstentielly es and for the purposes set forth.

in Witness Whereoi i have hereunto subscrihecl my shame, in the presence of two Witnesses, this 28th do? of June, 1901.

/V W. SALMQN.

Witnesses:

l). B. TUTTLE, M. E. SNYDER. 

